Upon submission of a unilateral request for mediation, the executive director shall consider the position of the party other than the party making the request, and shall evaluate whether the parties have exchanged and considered the proposals of one another and whether the intervention of the agency will have a beneficial impact on the negotiating process. Prior to making this determination, the executive director or a member of the agency staff may make an on-site investigation and may engage in conciliation under the general authority conferred on the commission by RCW 41.58.020(1). If it appears that the assistance of the agency is needed, the executive director shall appoint a mediator.